Case studies

Essex County Council is committed to supporting unpaid carers, whose vital contributions are often undervalued. In 2022, the Essex All-Age Carers Strategy was developed to enhance support for carers, with six key commitments to improve access to resources, wellbeing, and community recognition. The strategy led to the Essex Carers Model, which includes the Essex Wellbeing Service for initial contact, the Essex Carers Core Offer of Support (ECCOS), a digital service, and the Carers Voice initiative. Extensive stakeholder engagement and coproduction were key to its success. The ambition is to support over 12,500 carers through the redesigned core offer

'Cooking with Friends’ is a Merton Council project aimed at providing care leavers with the opportunity to learn new skills in the kitchen, make new friends and socialise over food. This space provides young people with a chance to create a peer support network, learn life skills and have their say. Those who attend receive a cookbook each session and a voucher of their choice for continuous engagement.

When certain groups of boaters in Wiltshire, and across the UK, were excluded from national energy bill support in 2022-23, Wiltshire Council’s Public Health team worked with UK Boaters for Energy Justice, a campaigning team of boaters, to successfully challenge the Government on missing energy bill support.

Elmbridge Borough Council introduced the Elmbridge Cost of Living Fund to empower community-led projects that support local residents through the cost of living crisis.

Nottingham’s new central library opened in November 2023. The redevelopment of the site enabled an immersive early years space to be created, alongside a craft/activity room, exhibition space and engaging children’s library.

Following feedback from some of Barnet’s 400+ care experienced young people aged 14 and over (many of whom are unaccompanied asylum seekers), Barnet Council recently extended the support it offers, launching a “service for life” through its Local Offer and at the dedicated Onwards and Upwards Young People’s Centre.

Shropshire’s focus centred on reframing food insecurity, helping people to maximise their incomes, and bringing communities and organisations together to co-create solutions. These key levers were identified from learning about the issue locally and developing a Theory of Change informed by this understanding.

The Shaping Places Healthier Lives (SPHL) project initially aimed to address local issues such as anti-social behaviour and fear of crime. However, it quickly became apparent that strengthening community cohesion was key to tackling these challenges and improving health and well-being, especially near the town centre where communities were most affected by health inequality.

Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council worked together with local partners to explore and address the issues and drivers causing food insecurity in seven areas of high need.